Adrienne Monka

Classroom

Monka will graduate this year with a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Northwestern. Monka’s career goal after college is to follow in the footsteps of her grandfather and join the Federal Bureau of Investigation. To that end, she has taken legal studies courses in addition to her sociology requirements in preparation for that step. Monka’s grandfather served the FBI as the Director of Evidence for Los Angeles County during his tenure in the organization, and she plans to follow that lead by continuing her softball career and coaching after graduation until she reaches the 24-year-old minimum age for applying to the Academy. During the course of her work in the Northwestern sociology department, Monka has done a strong job of seeking out courses that interest her. For example, she has taken three classes with the same professor on the topic of the holocaust, studying primary sources and delving deep into the sociological aspects of that specific event in history.

Character

Monka is one of two named captains for the Northwestern softball team in 2012, becoming the first to earn that specific designation in the 11-year Kate Drohan era of the program. Monka has served on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee as the softball program’s representative for two years, playing planning roles in SAAC’s annual Field Day for local school children and in SAAC’s annual Holiday season food drive. During her collegiate career, Monka has started every single game despite suffering injuries that required multiple offseason surgeries in multiple seasons. Her toughness and leadership in the training room, sports performance facility and practice field have set the bar very high for her teammates. Her performance and prowess at the plate was so feared in 2011, Monka was walked at the second-highest rate of any Division I player in NCAA history, and she used this treatment to encourage her teammates batting behind her — never once uttering a complaint about not being able to swing the bat herself.

Community

Monka is extremely giving of her time and active in the community, participating in both Northwestern-sponsored activities and seeking out her own influence with area organizations. Monka has been involved in many, many ways. She has served on a panel for Girls in the Game, a Chicago-area organization that promotes sports involvement for inner-city female youth. Monka has helped with the Women’s Club of Evanston Fairy Tale Trail, a Halloween trick-or-treating experience for local children with disabilities. She has visited local Willard Elementary School and Baker Demonstration school to talk about being a student-athlete and help promote physical activity by playing with the school kids. She has chatted with local Girl Scout troops. Monka helped to deliver food to Family Focus through a local food drive. She also participated in a Field Day for Special Olympics. With the Northwestern athletic department, Monka has lent her time to face-painting for young fans during pre-game football fan fests and Painting Evanston Purple as part of an overall NU marketing campaign.

Competition

Monka is a two-time NFCA All-America first team selection who led the nation with a .707 on-base percentage last season to unofficially rank second in NCAA Division I single-season history. Her .461 batting average and .865 slugging percentage in 2011 led to respect at the rate of 1.53 walks per game, also good for first in the country and second in NCAA DI history. Monka reached base in 25 straight plate appearances from April 16 to May 4 in 2011; the streak was comprised of seven hits, 17 bases on balls and one hit by pitch. She was featured as a Sports Illustrated Face in the Crowd in the May 30, 2011, issue for the streak. The former Big Ten Freshman of the Year was a USA Softball Player of the Year Watch List member in 2010 after hitting 19 home runs with a .900 slugging percentage in 2009. Monka is a career .375 batter with 41 home runs, 142 RBIs, a .798 slugging percentage and a .570 on-base percentage. Defensively, while starting every game at first base in the last two seasons, Monka has not committed an error since May 8, 2009 — a string of 94 games and 600 chances.